plate no. 4202
Remords
Carlos Schwabe, 1900
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, creating atmospheric perspective, and using a limited color palette to create a mood.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the tomb and figures.
- step 02
Establish the dark background and tomb using dark blues and blacks.
- step 03
Begin layering in the figures, starting with the ones furthest in the background, using thin washes of white and blue.
- step 04
Gradually add more detail and definition to the figures in the foreground, building up layers of color.
- step 05
Pay attention to the drapery and how it falls on the figures, using subtle shading to create form.
- step 06
Add the details of the graveyard, such as the crosses and tombstones.
- step 07
Refine the details of the faces and hair, using small brushes and delicate strokes.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · Prussian blue · Titanium white · Ivory black
secondary · Raw umber · Yellow ochre
Achieve the ghostly figures by mixing white with small amounts of blue and umber. Use more blue for figures further away to create atmospheric perspective.
techniques
- ·Glazing
- ·Scumbling
- ·Atmospheric perspective
- ·Figure drawing
- ·Limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the figures and losing the ethereal quality.
- →Making the background too bright and overpowering the figures.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the figures.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
materials
surface · Stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
- ·Flat brushes (sizes 6, 8)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
- ·Soft cloth or paper towels
optional
- ·Medium (glazing)
- ·Retarder
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas (light gray or blue) to help establish the dark background.
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